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32 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2018 PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG BOV PREMIER LEAGUE Balzan secure win over gutsy Pieta' WARREN ZAMMIT BALZAN had to work hard to secure a 1-0 win over stubborn Pieta` Hotspurs. Balzan started the match aim- ing to secure their fourth con- secutive win in order to climb ahead of Valletta and Gżira. On the other hand, Pieta` are still looking to register their first win. The newly-promoted side are finding life in the Premier League tough and till now they only secured two draws in their previous two matches against Qormi and Senglea. This scenario made Balzan clear favourites to collect the three points. However, Pieta` had already made things compli- cated for other top teams such as Hibernians and Birkirkara and thus Balzan needed to score early in order to dictate the tem- po of the game. Balzan made their intentions clear from the start and went close after seven minutes. Ri- cardo Calixto Correa Duarte drilled a low shot that failed to hit the target. Four minutes later, Alfred Ef- fiong of Balzan saw his shot from inside the penalty area be- ing neutralised by Nicolas Vella. Majdevac was unlucky not to send Balzan ahead on the 20th minute. The Serbian forward went round his marker and fired a shot that stamped off the post. Pieta` replied a minute later. Takaki Ose delivered an excel- lent ball towards Juan Manual Artiaga whose shot was saved by Steve Sultana. Moments later, Jan Busuttil re- leased Shunsuke Nakamura on the left and the latter hit a shot that was blocked by Sultana. Balzan protested for a penalty on the 25th minute as Majde- vac was floored down inside the penalty area by Antonio Orlando Macedo. However, the referee waved to play on. Marko Micovic's side kept on insisting and threatened again five minutes from half-time. Alex Da Paixao Alves sent a shot from distance that was parried for a corner by Vella. Balzan remained on the of- fensive during the second half and created another chance on the 54th minute. Correa Duarte unleashed a powerful shot that forced an excellent save from Vella. As time went by, Balzan re- mained superior and were un- lucky not to score the opening gaol on the 62nd minute. Uros Ljubomirac's shot was blocked by Vella. The ball rolled into the path of Effiong whose final ef- fort was cleared off the line by Christian Grech. Balzan lost another opportu- nity on the 78th minute. From a free-kick, the ball was deliv- ered towards Michael Johnson whose header sailed across the frame of goal. Pieta` had a rare opportunity a minute later. Paul Chimezie squared the ball for Neil Pace Cocks who finished wide from close range. Balzan finally broke the dead- lock on the 85th minute. Alfred Effiong received the ball deep inside the penalty area and slot- ted it past Vella. The newly-promoted side hit back immediately and lost a golden opportunity to equalise during the additional time given by the referee. Michael Johnson floored Clyde Bouvet inside the penalty area and the referee sig- nalled for a penalty. However, Christain Grech's shot from the eleven metres mark was blocked by Sultana. Following this result, Balzan climb momentarily first, while Pieta` remain second from bot- tom. Balzan starting line-up: Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli, Dale Camilleri, Alex Da Paixao Alves, Steven Bezzina, Michael Johnson, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Ri- cardo Calixto Correa Duarte, Andrija Majdevac Pieta` Hotspurs starting line-up: Nicholas Vella, Takaki Ose, Travis Bartolo, Neil Pace Cocks, Paul Chimezie, Jan Bu- suttil, Juan Manual Artiaga, Christian Grech, Shunsuke Na- kamura, Irmiya Ishaya Jalo, An- tonio Orlando Macedo Referee: Darryl Agius Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Spencer Fourth Official: Keith Mote- bello BOV Player of the Match: Alex Da Paixao Alves (Balzan) SPORTS Balzan Pieta' Hotspurs 1 0